Getting Ready shots (Bridal) - need feedback

[ltilley]

First, thanks to all who posted in response to my wedding thread in the help section. I'd love to get some feedback on the last wedding I did - so I can use it to do better for the next wedding.

These are just the getting ready pictures... the bride had a photographer for the wedding, but asked me to take pictures of her and her bridesmaids getting ready.

I know there's some detail lost on the right, but I almost like it... almost a glow? I know many think it's distracting - so let me know your thoughts.

[mtbbrian]

It's hard to see what is going on here, it's just a picture of the back of a woman's head, there is no action, not even a possible story to tell.
What there is though, are some detail of her hair do. And I think you wanted to tell or show more than just that.
For a photograph like what I think you had in mind to be successful, you need to show some action and expression in the people you are photographing.
Some suggestions would be showing them doing each others hair, getting dressed, something that involves action and that the person(any one for that matter) viewing the photograph can relate to. The photograph you have here doesn't do much in these regards.
Am I being helpful?
Good Luck on your next wedding!
Brian

[poker]

I'm not going to overly critique this. This is a simple photo to capture this small detail of the wedding. The bride doesn't know how her hair looks from behind but now she has a recording of it. I'm sure she appreciates it but I doubt this will be enlarged to an 8x10 and framed in the living room. Most of the pictures won't be enlarged or make it to the final album. That's just how it goes.

As the photog you are the only person in the room that cares if it is messy. As the bride is getting ready, the tidiness of the room is the last thing on their mind. The last wedding I did, I almost felt like a house keeper for the hotel because I had to get rid of so much background disorder. I can see there is some stuff on the bed in your picture which should have been removed. Keep that in mind on your next wedding.

I'm glad you even bothered to take this shot. We paid a bundle on our weddnig photog and there was absolutely no attention to the small details.

Good luck on your next gig!

[ltilley]

thanks, both comments were very helpful. You are right, it's more a detail than a story... maybe I could have caputured both at the same time - so she'd have the detail of her hair that day as well as a bit of action as well.

This is definately the feedback I need... Thanks again!!

Any technical feedback? Is the lighting too harsh or distracting. I meant for some glow effect - got too much; yet ended up liking the effect. If I wanted to eliminate this harsh light, does anyone have a suggestion of how I could do that?

THANKS!